Fri, 29th April, 2022 Hidden Valley Van Park, Berrimah, NT (Darwin history)

Woke to another storm at 6am with lightning and thunder. All good but we have to zip up the pop-top windows in case it blows in.

We headed into Darwin city to explore its history. We parked near the water where the sub-sea telegraph cable left Australia to connect to Java on 7^th Nov, 1871. Amazingly it was all laid and connected up by the 20^th Nov so Australia had easy communications now with Great Britain and the rest of the world. Then the overland telegraph line was brought up from Adelaide in 1872. Amazing workmanship. It was a see-through board so I lined up it up with the current view.

We walked around the base of the hill to where the settlement was for Goyder and his surveying group in Feb 1869. Darwin was originally called Palmerston and funnily enough then ended up naming the satellite city to the south Palmerston. Very interesting reading and we really are a soft race now compared to our pioneers who endured so much to open up our great country.

Across the road which leads up to the plateau of Darwin City is an anchor to mark the Goyder camp site but they have now created the park as well.

Spotted a couple of kingfishers.

We walked along the base road to the entrance to the WW2 oil storage tanks which were actually tunnels under the hill. Very interesting. How those men worked in here is amazing.

Peered into Tunnel 6 which is still sealed and holds water.

Though a small tunnel to Tunnel 5 which has had a entrance cut through it and is now filled with information about the tunnels, WW2 etc. It was a bit dark hence some blurry photos. We wandered along trying not to standing the water and read all the info. There were three types of info boards - the tunnels, WW2 and Darwin history. It is a bit smelly still down here still. Steve headed back to the truck in case our time had run out on the parking meter.

I got to the end and looked through the door then the viewing hole to where the tunnel continues to the other side of the hill - near where we parked the truck actually.

Headed back to Tunnel 6 and outside again.

I walked up the steps to the road above then down the road past a big fence around a nice water feature and a sign about Knight’s Folly. Wow what an interesting place (the middle one on the hillside).

Goyder’s park is on the flat below where the shed is.

Back to the truck and we still had time. I walked to the end of the carpark to check out the Deckchair Cinema. This premises has only been open here since 2003 though it first opened at Stokes Hill Wharf in 1994 but deckchair movies were going early at the Star till it was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Nice mural to go with the story of the telegraph sub-sea cables.

We drove up the hill - sad to see this graffiti on a unit block.

Drove past one of the Paspaley (pearl shop) which has an old facade and a very modern building behind it. At Broome airport one of the other cruise guests said to go to their shop in Broome and watch the documentary video they had on about pearling. She said it was fabulous. Will do that when we return. We had seen two of their boats in the marina on our way here - a big one was in the dry dock. The orange scooters and e-bikes are all over Darwin too.

We noticed the old buildings etc and realised we needed to have a walk around here too but there was no where to park - well that we can fit into that is. So we drove back to our carpark and paid for some more time.

We walked back up the road and up the stairs to a landing called Survivors Lookout then read all the history info there. They put them up high which gives you a kinked neck to read them but I suppose it stops the graffiti artists.

We continued along to a monument to the Darwin bombing.

A bit further along was Government House. Looks very tropical with the shutters etc.

Across the road was a sculpture for the Telegraph line etc.

Behind that is the modern looking government buildings with the Supreme Court on the other side of the corner park.

We continued back along the road to the old buildings we first saw. It was the Courthouse and Police Station. They have been refurbished after being damaged during Cyclone Tracy.

Out the front was the site of the first telegraph pole.

Around the corner is what remains of the Church Christ after Cyclone Tracy. Since then a new church has been built behind the front porch and the gateway.

Continued down Smith Street.

Across the road is another old building - Browns Mart. John Knight, who built Knights Folly we read about before, was responsible for a lot of the old buildings like this one as he was an architect as well as many other things. Another old building across the street - no info about this one though.

Cyclone Tracy caused too much damage to the Town Hall for it to be repaired but they kept what was left as a historical site.

On the corner is the Information Centre which was once the Reserve Bank in 1968. I much prefer the older styles than this ‘modern’ style.

Smith Street continued as a Mall. Named after A.H. Smith was with Goyder’s surveying party.

We wandered down the mall. I spotted this plaque in the concrete about the first settlers to arrive in Darwin in 1870.

Another lovely brick building caught my eye - The Victoria Hotel, est 1890.

Across from that was the Star Picture Theatre. Lots of information and photos in the entrance to the original Back Stalls. Now it leads into a shopping area.

Found another plaque about Chinese immigrants.

We headed back then went inside the Paspaley building to check out some painted kangaroos. Reminds us of the painted cows of Shepparton.

Walked to the end of the street and onto the lookout above the Sky Bridge overlooking Stokes Hill Wharf to the docks area on the other side of the harbour.

Downs the steps to the street which I now find out is Hughes Avenue, the first road of Darwin (we walked up it before past Knight’s Folly).

Onto the Sky Bridge across the street below to the Waterfront area.

Down the lift with glass walls and a great view.

It looks very nice so we went for a wander around. No waves at the wave pool.

Followed the boardwalk around the water’s edge and spotted some fish. There was a water fun park - a few adults were climbing over it so I didn’t take a photo. It would have been hot on the blown up plastic as it is quite hot today. Around to the lagoon.

I wanted Steve to get in the big deck chair but he reckons he wouldn’t be able to get back out.

We heard some noise and saw the waves had started in the wave pool so walked back over for a look.

Back to the truck and headed home for lunch.

Rested up for the afternoon and got ready to head off tomorrow.

Chatted with our neighbours who are heading across to Broome but not sure if they will do the Gibb or not. 

Drinks in the shade of the trees as it is still hot and humid. Leanne rang to see how the cruise went. I have posted up photos on Facebook and received lots of comments and likes as it was an adventure for sure.

Quiet night.